You really don't need to read this.

So I graduated last night...yippee, it was amazing.

This next part is for my own documentation, you don't need to read it. You will find it boring and probably feel as though it depresses me, but not so much to write about it.

So, not 24 hours after my high school graduation, the culmination of the last thirteen years of my life and blah de blah (see previous entry), I did the most difficult thing I have ever done. A wonderful young woman named Kristyna Kvasnickova, often referred to as Tyna Beana or mon chou chou...left.

The day started out me getting up early so I could run to the store and grab some grad gifts (for people whose parties were left unattended by me...whoops.) As I was getting ready to leave, there was a knock on the door. The unmistakable head cast a shadow in the curtained window. It was Irenka. She had come to say goodbye, tears already streaming down her face, ushering a river of equal proportions from me. As we hugged for about ten minutes, my hair still wet and unbrushed, she said something that really sent me off. "I came here and I did not find an American boyfriend, but I found my Stacy Bacy, and that's better." I was seriously not expecting to say goodbye to her until tomorrow, and I actually have to drop stuff off to her so I won't, but it was still emotional, and kind of scared me as to what I would be like a few hours later.

One very hurried trip to Wal-Mart later and I was back home, the Bates van pulled into my driveway. I grabbed some important things and as I walked out the door, I saw a bobbing cowboy hat exiting the van and smiled. We stopped at Timmy Ho's one last time, I gave her a necklace and Jitka's scrapbook, and then I realized that the airport is not as far away as I thought. We unloaded and went straight to the Delta counter, there was no line and it was all good. I prepared myself for the hardest.

And then the words, in that sarcastic Tyna voice..."I guess I'm not going then, yah?"

The flight was delayed about two hors, and the landing in Atlanta interfered with her flight to Prague. We stood for about a half an hour at that counter, sorting out all of the possible options, and eventually building up a line behind us that was very angry.

Tyna had a choice of waiting two days until the next available seat opened up, which we were game for, but she was worried about her parents in Czech...they would not be too happy. Another choice was getting up at 3 tomorrow morning to go to the Buffalo airport for a flight out of there. And then there was the option where Tyna took the same flight, attempted to make the plane in Atlanta, but if she didn't she would be put up in a hotel for the night and take the first flight out tomorrow...she liked the sound of free hotel and free food. So this was the choice. The lady went in to book it and there was another roadblock that really kind of opened the road. Somebody had gone in and scheduled different flights. Rochester to Atlanta to Paris to Prague. Sounds great!

So we had another two hours. We got her regular luggage all checked in and now we just waited. Ze sat around the airport for a bit, talking, I messed with Tyna's cowboy hat and determined it was one of the only hats I could pull off. We went back to the Bates' house, and I remember looking at my watch at about 15:50 and realizing that I should be on my way home, remembering my last hug and last words and last glimpse with probably one of the most amazing people in my life. But no, she was sitting across the room babbling in Czech about the delay and what was happening to her parents, showing them graduation pictures and saying goodbye I'll see you tomorrow...amnd me intently listening for any word I recognized.

Then we left for airport trip round two. I knew this time that there was no saving grace to give me more time with her, I would have to say goodbye. The entire ride was spent in a mini French lesson, teaching her basic words and phrases to make her have a good time on the plane. It was so much fun to use my passion for French to teach someone else. We went over the words until we reached the counter, where she got some angry glares as she went up to the same lady to sort out a mystery of a missing boarding pass. And then, it was time.

The security gate was empty, and Tyna did not want to prolong this any more than she needed to. She hugged me first, and I started crying, and then she went down the line. Debbie started crying after I did, and got worse when Tyna hugged her. I lightly punched her shoulder and said st'astnu cestu (have a good trip in Czech) and gave her a final hug.

I cried miserably as I watched her pass through the blinding white security area in that hat, with that skateboard on her back, and give a final wave as she crossed into the unknown. I just cried. Debbie offered me a tissue and a hug, I gladly accepted both, and after about ten minutes, we knew there was nothing more to do, no more to see, and headed back to the car.

I got home and walked back into my house after one last hug from Debbie. Only to find my family was not expecting me for dinner, so I ate a bowl of broccoli and a boca. I had not eaten all day, and yet I still was not hungry. Not before, not after, but I knew I should eat. After sulking around, I needed to get out of the house. So I went to Kristen's grad party and decided to have a good time and forget about it for a while. Of course everybody know, so they asked how I was and being reminded, I started crying again with each time it was mentioned. Finally people stopped mentioning it and I had a good time.

It was a sad day, and the happiest thing will be to hear her voice across the internet, home and safe. It was a fun day...in ways, and I love my Tyna.

"Charles DeGualle...where is that?" "Paris" "Oooh...I get to go to France!"
"Air France and Paris...uh oh, I'm wearing my I love NY t-shart and I look American...the French hate Americans. How do I say I am NOT American?"
"Don't worry, if you fall over, you can just roll onto the plane!"

=]